U.S. patent application number 15/506678 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-07 for method and apparatus for controlling interference between internet of things devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Invention is credited to Jae-Hyuk Jang, Kyeong-In Jeong, Sang-Bum Kim, Soeng-Hun Kim, Ju-Ho Lee, Han-IL Yu.
Application Number | 20170257794 15/506678 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55400034 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170257794 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Sang-Bum ; et
al. |
September 7, 2017 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING INTERFERENCE BETWEEN INTERNET
OF THINGS DEVICES
Abstract
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for controlling
interference between Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The method
for controlling interference between IoT devices includes:
selecting a device that will execute interference avoidance among
devices that are capable of performing an inter-thing communication
by taking a traffic type into consideration; and receiving
interference avoidance information required for the interference
avoidance from the device that will execute the interference
avoidance. The interference avoidance information includes offset
information representing a starting time.
Inventors: |
Kim; Sang-Bum; (Gyeonggi-do,
KR) ; Kim; Soeng-Hun; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; Yu;
Han-IL; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; Lee; Ju-Ho;
(Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; Jang; Jae-Hyuk; (Gyeonggi-do,
KR) ; Jeong; Kyeong-In; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd |
Gyeonggi-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Gyeonggi-do
KR
|
Family ID: |
55400034 |
Appl. No.: |
15/506678 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
August 25, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2015/008866 |
371 Date: |
February 24, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/80 20180201; H04W
72/082 20130101; H04W 28/04 20130101; H04B 15/02 20130101; H04W
76/28 20180201; H04W 72/1215 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 28/04 20060101
H04W028/04; H04W 76/04 20060101 H04W076/04; H04W 4/00 20060101
H04W004/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 26, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0111354 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for controlling interference among devices in a
terminal, the apparatus comprising: a controller configured to
select a device to execute interference avoidance from among
devices that are capable of performing inter-device communication
based on a traffic type; and a reception unit configured to
receive, from the selected device, interference avoidance
information required for the interference avoidance, wherein the
controller determines an interference avoidance method based on the
interference avoidance information.
2. An apparatus for avoiding interference in a device among
devices, the apparatus comprising: a reception unit configured to
receive, from a terminal, a message notifying that a device to
execute interference avoidance is selected from among devices that
are capable of performing inter-device communication based on a
traffic type; and a transmission unit configured to transmit
interference avoidance information required for the interference
avoidance to the terminal, wherein an interference avoidance method
is based on the interference avoidance information.
3. An apparatus for controlling interference among devices in a
terminal, the apparatus comprising: a controller configured to
determine to transfer authority to at least one device that can
execute interference avoidance, and transmit an indicator for
indicating the authority transfer to the determined device, wherein
the determined device selects a device to execute interference
avoidance from among devices that are capable of performing
inter-device communication based on a traffic type, and receives
interference avoidance information required for the interference
avoidance from the selected device, wherein an interference
avoidance method is based on the interference avoidance
information.
4. An apparatus for avoiding interference in a device among
devices, the apparatus comprising: a controller configured to:
receive an indicator for indicating an authority transfer from a
terminal, select a device to execute interference avoidance from
among devices that are capable of performing inter-device
communication based on a traffic type, and receive interference
avoidance information required for the interference avoidance from
the selected device, wherein an interference avoidance method is
based on the interference avoidance information.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interference avoidance
information includes at least one of a pattern of a short-range
communication signal, an absolute time, a signal transmission
power, and an offset information representing a starting time.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interference avoidance
method includes resetting a frequency of a mobile communication
signal, if the interference occurs between the mobile communication
signal and a short-range communication technique.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interference avoidance
method includes changing a short-range communication technique to
other short-range communication technique, if the interference
occurs between a mobile communication signal and a short-range
communication technique.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interference avoidance
method includes changing of scheduling of a short-range
communication, if the interference occurs between a mobile
communication signal and a short-range communication technique.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when it is determined that
frequencies, for which a measurement instruction is issued from a
base station, are affected by In-Device Coexistence (IDC)
interference, the terminal transmits an InDeviceCoexIndication
message to the base station.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the InDeviceCoexIndication
message includes a discontinuous reception (DRX) setting message
which is capable of minimizing the IDC interference.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the DRX setting message
includes DRX cycle information, offset value information notifying
DRX starting time, and DRX active time information.
12.-14. (canceled)
15. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the interference avoidance
information includes at least one of a pattern of a short-range
communication signal, an absolute time, a signal transmission
power, and an offset information representing a starting time.
16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the interference avoidance
method includes resetting a frequency of a mobile communication
signal, if the interference occurs between the mobile communication
signal and a short-range communication technique.
17. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the interference avoidance
method includes changing a short-range communication technique to
other short-range communication technique, if the interference
occurs between a mobile communication signal and a short-range
communication technique.
18. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the interference avoidance
method includes changing of scheduling of a short-range
communication, if the interference occurs between a mobile
communication signal and a short-range communication technique.
19. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein when it is determined that
frequencies, for which a measurement instruction is issued from a
base station, are affected by In-Device Coexistence (IDC)
interference, the terminal transmits an InDeviceCoexIndication
message to the base station.
20. A method for controlling interference among devices in a
terminal, the method comprising: selecting a device to execute
interference avoidance from among devices that are capable of
performing inter-device communication based on a traffic type; and
receiving, from the selected device, interference avoidance
information required for the interference avoidance, wherein the
controller determines an interference avoidance method based on the
interference avoidance information.
21. A method for avoiding interference in a device among devices,
the method comprising: receiving, from a terminal, a message
notifying that a device to executeinterference avoidance is
selected from among devices that are capable of performing
inter-device communication based on a traffic type; and
transmitting interference avoidance information required for the
interference avoidance to the terminal, wherein an interference
avoidance method is based on the interference avoidance
information.
22. A method for controlling interference among devices in a
terminal, the method comprising: determining to transfer authority
to at least one device that can execute interference avoidance; and
transmitting, to the determined device, an indicator for indicating
the authority transfer, wherein the determined device selects a
device to execute interference avoidance from among devices that
are capable of performing inter-device communication based on a
traffic type, and receives interference avoidance information
required for the interference avoidance from the selected device,
wherein an interference avoidance method is based on the
interference avoidance information.
23. A method for avoiding interference in a device among devices,
the method comprising: receiving, from a terminal, an indicator for
indicating an authority transfer; selecting a device to execute
interference avoidance from among devices that are capable of
performing inter-devices communication based on a traffic type; and
receiving, from the selected device, interference avoidance
information required for the interference avoidance, wherein an
interference avoidance method is based on the interference
avoidance information.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for
controlling interference between Internet of things devices.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In general, a mobile communication system was developed for
the purpose of providing a communication service while securing a
user's mobility. The mobile communication system is at the stage of
being capable of providing not only voice communications but also
high speed data communication services owing to the rapid progress
in development of techniques. A short-range communication technique
has also made rapid progress such that one user tends to have
various short-range communication devices in addition to a mobile
communication terminal.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0003] The advanced communication technique has enabled
communication between all things, which is represented by a term,
"Internet of Things (IoT)," as well as inter-user communications.
For example, one user may use various kinds of electronic devices,
all of which may be interconnected with each other through a mobile
communication or short-range communication technique or various
sensors so as to provide more convenient functions to the user or
to enable efficient inter-device control. Such electronic devices
may be generally called IoT devices.
[0004] The IoT devices include a mobile communication module, such
as long term evolution (LTE), or a near short-range communication
module, such as Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), zigbee, or
Near-Field Communication (NFC). At this time, there may be a case
in which frequency bands used by respective communication modules
are adjacent to each other.
Solution to Problem
[0005] The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for
solving a problem of interference between IoT devices (hereinafter,
also referred to as "inter-IoT device interference").
[0006] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there
is provided an apparatus for controlling an interference among
devices in a terminal. The apparatus includes: a controller is
configured to select a device that will execute interference
avoidance among devices that are capable of performing an
inter-devices communication based on a traffic type; and a
reception unit is configured to receive interference avoidance
information required for the interference avoidance from the
selected device. The controller determines an interference
avoidance method based on the interference avoidance
information.
[0007] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
there is provided an apparatus for avoiding an interference in a
device among devices. The apparatus includes: a reception unit is
configured to receive from a terminal a message notifying that a
device that will execute an interference avoidance is selected
among devices that are capable of performing an inter devices
communication based on a traffic type; and a transmission unit is
configured to transmit interference avoidance information required
for the interference avoidance to the terminal. An interference
avoidance method is based on the interference avoidance
information.
[0008] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
there is provided an apparatus for controlling an interference
among devices in a terminal. The apparatus includes: a controller
is configured to determine to transfer the authority to at least
one of device that will execute interference avoidance, and
transmit an indicator for indicating the authority transfer to the
determined device. The determined device selects a device that will
execute interference avoidance among devices that are capable of
performing an inter-devices communication based on a traffic type,
and receives interference avoidance information required for the
interference avoidance from the selected device, and an
interference avoidance method is based on the interference
avoidance information.
[0009] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
there is provided an apparatus for avoiding an interference in a
device among devices. The apparatus includes: a controller is
configured to receive an indicator for indicating an authority
transfer from a terminal, select a device that will execute
interference avoidance among devices that are capable of performing
an inter-devices communication based on a traffic type, and receive
interference avoidance information required for the interference
avoidance from the selected device. An interference avoidance
method is based on the interference avoidance information.
[0010] The present disclosure can solve a problem of inter-IoT
device interference.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the
present disclosure will be more apparent from the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating schematized frequency bands
adjacent to an ISM band 100 among frequencies which are currently
used for mobile communication in 3GPP;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a view for describing an example of an inter-IoT
device interference scenario in the present disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a view for conceptually describing a method of
avoiding inter-IoT device interference in the present
disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for describing a method of avoiding
inter-IoT device interference in the present disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for describing a procedure of
controlling inter-IoT device interference in a case where a main
agent for controlling interference in the present disclosure is an
LTE terminal;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a view for describing IDC which is an existing LTE
technique;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a view for describing a procedure in which a
terminal provides information required for minimizing IDC
interference in an existing LTE standard to a base station;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for describing a process in which an
IoT device authorized to control interference controls interference
between the other IoT devices;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a view for conceptually describing a procedure in
which an authority of controlling interference is transferred to
another IoT device;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a flowchart for describing a procedure in which
an authority of controlling interference is transferred to another
IoT device; and
[0022] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an internal
configuration of a terminal.
MODE FOR THE INVENTION
[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. At
this time, the same elements will be designated by the same
reference numerals although they are shown in different drawings.
Further, a detailed description of a known function and
configuration which may make the subject matter of the present
disclosure unclear will be omitted.
[0024] Further, terms or words used in the description and claims
below should not be interpreted as only general or dictionary
meanings, but interpreted as meanings and concepts satisfying the
technical spirit of the present disclosure based on a principle in
that the inventor can appropriately define his/her disclosure with
a concept of the terms in order to describe the disclosure in the
best method.
[0025] The term "LTE terminal" or "terminal" used herein below
means a mobile terminal capable of high speed wireless
communication. As an example, the LTE terminal or terminal may be a
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) having a communication function, a
smart phone, a portable phone, a tablet computer, or a note
computer, and is capable of accessing a plurality of IoT devices.
The terms, "LTE terminal" and "terminal" will be interchangeably
used in the whole range of the specification.
[0026] An LTE terminal may be operated on an LTE carrier frequency
or on an ISM band.
[0027] A short-range communication technique to be described below
may mean, for example, Bluetooth, wireless LAN, zigbee, or NFC, but
is not limited thereto.
[0028] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating schematized frequency bands
adjacent to an Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) band 100
among frequencies which are currently used for mobile communication
in 3GPP.
[0029] It may be understood that in a case where a mobile
communication cell uses Band 40 105, an interference phenomenon
becomes severe when Channel 1 is used as a wireless LAN channel,
and in a case where the mobile communication cell uses Band 7 110,
the interference phenomenon becomes severe when Channel 13 or
Channel 14 is used as the wireless LAN channel. When one user has a
plurality of IoT devices, the distances between the respective IoT
devices are defined, for example, within a human body size, and it
is expected that the above-mentioned interference will be deepened.
In fact, tests between commercially available products show such
interference.
[0030] The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for
causing one IoT device to control and adjust interference between a
plurality of other IoT devices, including the one IoT itself. The
IoT device configured to adjust the interference requests itself or
other IoT devices to execute an interference avoidance method
according to a prescribed rule, such as whether or not interference
practically occurs, traffic significance (or priority) of each IoT
device, or supremacy of an avoidance method. In addition, the
interference adjustment authority may be transferred to another IoT
device according to a prescribed rule.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a view for describing an example of an inter-IoT
device interference scenario in the present disclosure.
[0032] For example, a user 210 has three kinds of IoT devices in
total. One IoT device is an LTE terminal 215 which is mainly used
for a data service, such as web surfing, and voice/video calling.
The other IoT devices are a wireless headset 225, and a smart watch
230.
[0033] The wireless head-set 225 is capable of receiving and
reproducing a music file without a wire using a short-range
communication technique, such as Bluetooth.
[0034] The smart watch 230 may execute various functions. The smart
watch 230 may provide, for example, schedule management, an alarm,
exercise management, entertainment (e.g., music or movie) functions
in addition to a basic function of providing time information. In
addition, the smart watch 230 may collect body information of the
user 210, for example, checking of heart rate or blood sugar. At
this time, the IoT devices may be interconnected with each other
using the short-range communication technique. As an example, when
a music file is stored in the smart watch 230, the music file may
be transmitted to the wireless headset 225 using, for example,
Bluetooth communication.
[0035] The wireless headset 225 reproduces the received music file
for the user 210. At this time, the user 210 may attempt data
communication using the LTE terminal 215. At this time, the LTE
terminal 215 transmits an LTE signal 205 to the base station 200.
The LTE signal 205 may interfere with a Bluetooth signal between
the wireless headset 225 and the smart watch 230 (220). In
contrast, the Bluetooth signal 235 may act as an interference
source to the LTE signal 205. For this interference, the frequency
band used by the LTE signal 205 should be adjacent to the ISM band
used for the Bluetooth communication, the signals should have a
signal intensity to cause the interference.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a view for conceptually describing a method of
avoiding inter-IoT device interference in the present
disclosure.
[0037] A user 310 includes, for example, three kinds of IoT devices
in total, such as an LTE terminal 315, a wireless headset 325, and
a smart watch 330. At this time, the LTE terminal 315 serves as a
main agent that controls inter-IoT device interference, and the
other IoT devices 325 and 330 should recognize this fact in
advance. In general, an IoT device always carried by the user may
be selected as the main agent that controls interference between
the IoT devices owned by the user. An example of the main agent
that controls inter-IoT device interference may be, for example,
the LTE terminal (smart phone) 315 or the smart watch 330. This is
because, when the user leaves a main agent device that controls
interference and moves away from the main agent device, it is
necessary to select a new main control agent device among the IoT
devices owned by the user, and thus, operational complexity such as
signaling overhead increases. As another example, a control for
inter-IoT device interference within a house may be set by a main
agent device that controls interference between home appliances
fixedly positioned within the house. The present disclosure is
characterized by the fact that interference control information is
exchanged between the main agent that controls the interference and
the other IoT devices (320) so as to control the interference
between the LTE terminal and the other IoT devices.
[0038] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for describing a method of avoiding
inter-IoT device interference in the present disclosure.
[0039] Although FIG. 4 illustrates one IoT device like an IoT
device 405, a plurality of IoT devices may be provided, and the
operations in FIG. 4 may also be applied to the plurality of IoT
devices.
[0040] Although not illustrated in FIG. 4, for example, the IoT
device 405 owned by the user is put through a process in which the
IoT device 405 is registered for the LTE terminal 400, for example,
which is the main agent for interference control in the beginning
of use. During the registration process, it is possible to set, for
example, whether the interference control function in the present
disclosure may be executed. Detailed descriptions on the
registration process will be omitted.
[0041] Then, in step 410, the IoT device 405 determines whether an
IoT device 405 is powered ON or comes within a sensing distance of
the LTE terminal 400. In step 415, the LTE terminal 400 and the IoT
device 405 execute an initial setting process. In the initial
setting process, the IoT device 405 informs the LTE terminal 400
that a previously registered IoT device is in the powered-ON state
(or has come within the sensing distance, requests device
authentication and inquires as to whether the IoT device 405 may
execute the interference control function in the present
disclosure. Since peripheral IoT devices may come in or go out of
the sensing distance at any time, the IoT device, which is in
charge of interference control, needs to perform periodic
monitoring. In general, short-range communication techniques, such
as Bluetooth, periodically monitor devices that use the same
short-range communication. When there is a previously registered
device among the found peripheral devices, the short-range
communication is enabled instantly. In step 420, the LTE terminal
400 determines whether there is potential for interference to occur
between the LTE terminal 400 and the peripheral IoT devices or
between the peripheral IoT devices. When there is potential for the
interference to occur, in step 425, the LTE terminal 400 sets the
IoT devices (or asks the IoT 405) to report information required
for the interference control. There is the possibility that
interference will occur, for example, when the frequency band used
by the LTE terminal is adjacent to the ISM band or an operating
frequency or measurement frequency is adjacent to the ISM band to
exert an influence on typical LTE operations, such as communication
and measurement. Or, there is also be potential for the
interference to occur, for example, when short-range communications
between the IoT devices may interfere with each other. When an
inter-IoT device signal practically occurs according to the setting
of the LTE terminal or data transmission is started using a
specific wireless technique in step 430, the IoT device 405 reports
signal information to the LTE terminal 400 in step 435.
Alternatively, the IoT device 405 may report the signal information
in advance before transmitting the signal. The signal information
helps the LTE terminal determine whether interference practically
occurs. The signal information may include, for example, a
Bluetooth signal pattern(s), the starting point of time (i.e.,
offset), an absolute time, a transmission power, and a significance
(or priority) of traffic. Alternatively, when the IoT device
informs the LTE terminal 400 of execution of a
transmission/reception operation, in step 440, the LTE terminal 400
may directly monitor the signal of the IoT device so as to collect
required information. Or, both the two methods described above may
be executed. Based on the information, the LTE terminal 400
determines whether interference practically occurs in step 445, and
when it is determines that the interference occurs, the LTE
terminal 400 decides a proper interference avoidance method in step
450. The LTE terminal 400 selects at least one method among the
interference avoidance methods to be described below, and attempts
interference avoidance.
[0042] 1. Avoidance through Resetting of LTE Signal
[0043] When interference occurs between the LTE signal and
Bluetooth (or wireless LAN), the LTE signal may be reset so as to
prevent the LTE signal and Bluetooth from interfering with each
other or to alleviate the interference. As for this method, a
frequency division multiplex (FDM) method and a time division
multiplex (TDM) method exist.
[0044] The FDM method refers to a method that shifts a serving LTE
frequency that currently causes interference to a frequency spaced
somewhat away from the ISM band. For this purpose, a frequency, at
which the base station and the terminal do not cause the
interference, shall also be supported.
[0045] The TDM method refers to a method that changes Discontinuous
Reception (DRX) or HARQ process setting of the LTE signal so as to
temporally separate the LTE signal from the Bluetooth (or wireless
LAN) signal. The TDM may be somewhat complicated but may be
actively applied when a supportable frequency is limited. In order
to reset the LTE signal described above, In-Device Coexistence
(IDC)--an existing LTE standard technique--may be utilized. That
is, in step 455, the LTE terminal 400 may execute IDC triggering to
a network entity (e.g., evolved Node B (eNB)). The IDC technique
will be described in detail below.
[0046] 2. Avoidance through Change of Short-Range Communication
Technique
[0047] Short-range communication techniques are highly diversified
and include, for example, Bluetooth, wireless LAN, zigbee, and NFC.
In addition, an IoT device may include a plurality of short-range
communication modules so as to support various applications.
Accordingly, different short-range communications may be used for
the same purpose. In a case where occurrence of interference is
expected when the Bluetooth communication is used, in step 460, the
LTE terminal 400 requests the IoT device 405 to change the
short-range communication technique to be used to another
communication technique which is expected not to cause
interference, for example, wireless LAN or zigbee.
[0048] 3. Change of Scheduling of Short-Range Communication
[0049] The short-range communications, such as Bluetooth, use a
method of transmitting data on a predetermined cycle. Accordingly,
when the predetermined cycle is properly adjusted, the interference
between the LTE signal and the signals of the other IoT devices may
be avoided or alleviated through the TDM method.
[0050] In selecting a proper interference avoidance method,
significance (or priority) of traffic between respective IoT
devices may be taken into consideration. For example, when the user
makes an emergency call using the LTE terminal, the significance of
the corresponding traffic may be considered highest. In such a
case, when there is a signal of the other IoT which interferes with
the LTE terminal signal, the short-range communication technique of
the other IoT devices may be changed rather than resetting the
signal of the LTE terminal. This is because resetting of the signal
of the LTE terminal requires a time therefor and the emergency call
may not be smoothly made during the resetting. Similarly, when the
smart watch collects and transmits the user's current health
condition information, such as heart rate, this may be considered
higher in priority than the signals of the other IoT devices.
[0051] When transmission/reception of the IoT devices is
terminated, informing the main agent device that controls the
interference of the termination of transmission/reception is
helpful for the main agent device to adjust the interference. This
is because the interference avoidance method may be re-adjusted
considering the interference which does not exist anymore. For this
purpose, the IoT devices may directly inform the main agent device
that controls the interference of the termination of
transmission/reception. Alternatively, the main agent device may
directly monitor the transmission/reception operations of the IoT
devices, and when the transmission/reception is not made for a
predetermined length of time, the main agent device determines that
the transmission/reception is terminated. In the former case, an
IoT device may not inform the main agent device of the termination
due to a certain reason. For example, when the IoT device is
rapidly moved away from the user, the IoT device may not inform the
main agent device of this. Accordingly, defining an operation for
compensating this is needed. The latter case has a disadvantage in
that the power consumption of the main agent device increases.
[0052] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for describing a procedure of
controlling inter-IoT device interference in a case where a main
agent for controlling interference in the present disclosure is an
LTE terminal.
[0053] After the power is turned ON in step 510, an IoT device 505
searches for a master device in step 515. Here, the master device
refers to a device that is in charge of control of inter-device
interference. Here, an LTE terminal 500 becomes the master device.
At the initial stage of use, the IoT device should go through a
process of registering with the LTE terminal 500 at least one time.
In the registration process, for example, whether or not the IoT
device is to be subjected to an interference control of the LTE
terminal 500 will be selected by the user or automatically (by
taking the capability of the IoT device 440 into consideration).
Upon finding the LTE terminal 500, the IoT device performs an
operation of informing the LTE terminal 500 of turning-ON of the
power in step 520. In addition, for example, a synchronization
operation for interworking between the kinds of short-range
communications that can be used by the IoT device, and between the
LTE terminal 500 and the IoT device 505 is performed. Information
exchange between the LTE terminal 500 and the IoT device 505 is
performed using, for example, a short-range communication, such as
Bluetooth or wireless LAN. The LTE terminal 500 determines whether
to apply the interference control method in the present disclosure
to the IoT device in consideration of, for example, a frequency
band and frequency bandwidth which will be used by itself and a
communication technique to be used by the IoT device. For example,
when the IoT device 505 uses a Bluetooth or wireless LAN
communication technique that employs the ISM band, the LTE terminal
500 determines whether at least one of the following conditions is
satisfied.
[0054] Condition 1: whether at least one of the frequencies
instructed to the LTE measObjectEUTRA IE by the terminal 500 may be
interfered with by the ISM band or may cause interference with the
ISM Band (that is, whether at least one frequency is adjacent to
the ISM band)
[0055] Condition 2: Whether a frequency band supported by the LTE
terminal 500 is positioned adjacent to the ISM band
[0056] In other words, when frequencies related to, for example,
data transmission/reception and measurement which are typical LTE
operations are positioned adjacent to the ISM band, there may be
interference therebetween when the IoT device transmits data using
the ISM band. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, only the
ISM band and LTE frequencies adjacent thereto are mentioned, the
descriptions may also be equally applied to all the short-range
communication frequencies and frequencies of mobile communications
other than the LTE.
[0057] When at least one of the above-mentioned conditions is
satisfied, the LTE terminal 500 sets the IoT device 505 to provide
information required for interference control in step 535. The
conditions may be varied over time. That is, the use frequency of
the LTE terminal 500 may be shifted to a frequency that does not
exert influence on the ISM band. Accordingly, it is needed to
correct the former setting. For this purpose, resetting may be
executed with respect to the IoT device 505. Alternatively, the
expiration date for the previous setting may be determined based on
a timer. This is because the LTE terminal 500 and the IoT device
505 may be suddenly separated away from each other such that
specific information cannot be exchanged therebetween. For example,
the user may leave the IoT device 505 far behind. In this case, it
is impossible to reset the set information, which has been
previously provided by the LTE terminal 500, through signaling.
This may cause the IoT device to unnecessarily report the
information requested by the LTE terminal 500 in response to data
transmission/reception even though the information has not been
practically transmitted. Accordingly, at the time of setting, a
specific timer is operated by both of the LTE terminal 500 and the
IoT device 505, and it is determined that the setting is only
effective until the timer expires. When it is desired to extend the
validity of the setting, the LTE terminal 500 may execute resetting
before the timer expires. In addition, when the LTE terminal 500
does not send feedback even if the IoT device 505 has reported
related information to the LTE terminal 500 several times after
initiating the short-range communication, it may be determined that
the previous setting is not effective any more. The above-mentioned
number of reporting times may be included at the time of setting
(step 535). In step 545, the LTE terminal 500 performs a
communication with the base station. When the IoT device 505
transmits/receives data using Bluetooth, in step 555, the IoT
device 505 reports, for example, the kind of used communication
technique (e.g., Bluetooth), used frequency information,
characteristics of Bluetooth signal (signal pattern(s), offset,
transmission power), absolute time, or the kind (or priority) of
traffic, to the LTE terminal 500. The report may be made either
before or after the practical Bluetooth communication is performed.
After receiving the report, the LTE terminal 500 determines that
the practical Bluetooth communication has just started or will
start soon. In step 565, the IoT device 505 executes data
transmission/reception using the Bluetooth. As in step 560, the LTE
terminal 500 may monitor a communication signal of the IoT device
505 through a wireless channel. Through the monitoring, the LTE
terminal 500 may directly collect signal characteristic
information, or may grasp, for example, termination of signal
transmission/reception. Accordingly, an alternative, in which by
combining the monitoring, the IoT device 505 does not report all
the information items described above to the LTE terminal 500 but
reports only specific information items, and the LTE terminal 500
directly monitors and collects remaining information items, may be
taken into consideration. The specific information items are the
absolute time, the kind (or significance) of traffic, and the
information items collected through the monitoring are information
items which may be wirelessly collected by the LTE terminal 500.
For example, a Bluetooth signal characteristic and frequency
information may be the information items collected through the
monitoring. The LTE terminal 500 determines whether practical
interference may occur or not, based on the information reported by
the IoT device.
[0058] As another alternative, without any report from the IoT
device, the LTE terminal periodically monitors whether or not
interference caused by peripheral IoT devices exists, and when
interference between the LTE and the IoT devices or between the IoT
devices is sensed, the LTE terminal may measure and collect the
above-mentioned specific information items wirelessly and may
perform an operation avoiding the interference.
[0059] Although only the interference between the LTE terminal and
the IoT devices are illustrated in FIG. 5, interference between
another IoT device and still another IoT device may also be
determined. When the LTE terminal 500 also is performing data
transmission/reception or measuring using a frequency which may
exert on the ISM band, an interference avoidance method is applied
in step 570. The LTE terminal 500 should also determine which
interference avoidance method is applied. First, the traffic of the
LTE terminal 500 and the kind of traffic of the IoT device may be
taken into consideration. The kind of traffic may be represented as
the significance (or priority) of data which is being
transmitted/received. When the LTE terminal 500 is
transmitting/receiving important data such as an emergency call,
the LTE terminal 500 will instruct the IoT device 505 to execute an
interference avoidance operation. On the contrary, when the IoT
device is transmitting/receiving data in need of urgency such as
transmission of urgent health information, the LTE terminal 500
itself will execute an interference avoidance operation. When the
LTE terminal 500 executes the interference avoidance operation, the
existing IDC technology is utilized in step 575. The LTE terminal
500 transmits InDeviceCoexIndication message to the base station.
The message includes information required when avoiding the
interference with the FDM or TDM method. Thus, in step 585, the
base station may set the LTE terminal 500 to avoid the interference
using an RRC message. The LTE terminal 500 may indicate an
interference avoidance technique to the IoT device 505, which is
executing a short-range communication. As described above, the LTE
terminal 500 may instruct the IoT device 505 to use other
short-range communication or request a change in the scheduling
pattern. When the transmission/reception by the LTE terminal 500 is
very important and there is not interference avoidance method used
by the IoT device 505 (when there is a single short-range
communication technique or scheduling change is impossible), the
LTE terminal 500 may instruct the IoT device 505 to stop or
postpone the transmission/reception. When the short-range
communication is terminated in step 590, the IoT device 505 informs
the LTE terminal 500 of the termination. Or, when a
transmission/reception signal from the IoT device 505 is not sensed
for a predetermined length of time, the LTE terminal 500 considers
that the transmission/reception is terminated. In addition, with
respected to all the messages 520, 535, 555, 580, 590, and 595
exchanged between the LTE terminal 500 and the IoT device 505, the
counterpart transmits a kind of feedback, and depending on whether
the feedback is received or not, it is possible to determine
whether the two devices exist within two effective distances from
each other. The effective distance is a distance between respective
IoT devices and may be defined, for example, within a human body
size. As an option, the LTE terminal 500 may transmit a message,
"release the setting," to the IoT device 505.
[0060] FIG. 6 is a view for describing IDC which is an existing LTE
technique.
[0061] IDC refers a technique for minimizing interference when
multiple communication modules interfere with each other.
State-of-the-art terminals of have various functions, and are
provided with various communication modules for supporting the
functions. In addition to an LTE communication module 600, for
example, a Global Positioning System (GPS) module 605 used for
geographical location identification, or a short-range
communication module 610, such as Bluetooth or wireless LAN, may be
provided. The module transmits/receives required data via, for
example, antenna 615, 620, and 625 which are connected thereto,
respectively. The frequency bands of respective communication
systems are different from each other. However, upon using adjacent
bands, an inter-communication module interference may be caused.
This is caused because the transmitted/received signals cannot be
ideally separated between the bands. Moreover, each communication
module and an antenna connected therewith are included in one
terminal device, and thus, are positioned very close to each other.
Thus, the interference intensity acting therebetween may be
relatively high. Accordingly, in order to alleviate the
interference, controlling the transmission power between the
communication modules is needed. For example, when a short-range
communication module 610, such as the Bluetooth or wireless LAN,
attempts data reception at LTE uplink, a transmission signal of the
LTE communication module 600 may interfere with the short-range
communication module 610. In order to alleviate this, the
interference amount may be controlled by limiting the uplink
maximum transmission power of the LTE communication module 600.
Alternatively, the interference power exerting an influence on the
short-range communication module 610 may be removed by temporarily
stopping the operation of the LTE communication module 600. On the
contrary, the short-range communication module 610 may interfere
with a reception signal of the LTE communication module 600 at the
LTE downlink Although the IDC technique is a technique for avoiding
interference between various communication modules within a device,
the IDC technique may be sufficiently utilized for avoiding
interference between various communications of other devices
positioned close to each other as in the present disclosure.
[0062] FIG. 7 is a view for describing a procedure in which a
terminal provides information required for minimizing IDC
interference in an existing LTE standard to a base station.
[0063] As described above, in order for an LTE terminal 700 itself
to avoid interference from/to the Bluetooth or wireless LAN
communication, an FDM or TDM method may be used.
[0064] The FDM method refers to a method in which the LTE terminal
700 reports information on an frequency interfering with other
short-range communications to a base station 705 using an RRC
message (InDeviceCoexIndication). Then, the base station 705
instructs the LTE terminal 700 to execute handover so as to use a
frequency affected by the interference. The TDM method is a method
that temporally separates and avoids interference by adjusting, for
example, a DRX or (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) process
pattern (or HARQ bit map pattern) while maintain an existing
serving frequency.
[0065] For example, the base station 705 uses an RRC Connection
Reconfiguration message in step 710 in order to provide various
setting information items, such as cell measurement and DRX, to the
LTE terminal 700. When it is determined that frequencies, for which
a measurement instruction is received from the base station 705,
are affected by the IDC inference, the LTE terminal 700 transmits
DRX setting information, which is capable of minimizing the IDC
interference, to the base station 705 using the
InDeviceCoexIndication message, in step 715. The DRX setting
information includes DRX cycle information, offset information that
notifies a DRX start time, and DRX active time information.
[0066] DRX cycle length: The DRX cycle length is a distance length
between an arbitrary activation period and the next activation. As
the DRX cycle length increases, a sleeping period increases and the
power consumption of a terminal is reduced. However, when the DRX
cycle length is long, a disadvantage occurs in that a call delay
increases. The DRX cycle length is signaled by a network.
[0067] Offset information: The official information is usually
induced from a unique identifier of a terminal and the DRX cycle
length. For example, a value obtained by performing a mode
operation on the identifier of the terminal by the DRX cycle length
the identifier of the terminal may be used as a starting time of
the activation period.
[0068] DRX active time: The DRX active time means a length of a
period in which the terminal is awake during one activation period,
and a predetermined value is usually used for the DRX active time.
For example, the length of the activation period in a mobile
communication system is 10 msec.
[0069] Table 1 below represents DRX setting information for
minimizing IDC interference defined in LTE Standard Document 3GPP
S36.331.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 drx-CycleLength-r11 ENUMERATED {sf40, sf64,
sf80, sf128, sf160, sf256, spare2, spare1}, drx-Offset-r11 INTEGER
(0..255) OPTIONAL, drx-ActiveTime-r11 ENUMERATED {sf20, sf30, sf40,
sf60, sf80, sf100, spare2, spare1}
[0070] Here, sf40 represents 40 sub-frame units. In particular,
drx-Offset represents an offset value indicating a DRX starting
time, and is defined as Equation 1 below.
[(SFN*10)+subframe number] modulo(drx-CycleLength)=drx-Offset
Equation 1
[0071] As indicated in Equation 1, SFN (System Frame Number) is
used. SFN represents an order number of a radio frame and has a
value from 0 to 1023. After one SFN period (0-1023), the next SFN
period is started again from the value of 0.
[0072] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for describing a process in which an
IoT device authorized to control interference controls interference
between the other IoT devices.
[0073] Two IoT devices 805 and 810 exist around an LTE terminal 800
authorized to control interference. The two IoT devices will be
subjected to the interference control of the LTE terminal through
an initial setting process (step 815). In step 820, the LTE
terminal 800 determines whether or not an interference control
between the peripheral IoT devices including itself is required.
When it is determined that the interference control is required,
the LTE terminal 800 sets each of the IoT devices 805 and 810 to
report information required for the control (steps 825 and 830).
When the IoT device 1 805 starts data communication (step 835), the
IoT device 1 805 reports transmission signal information to the LTE
terminal 800 (step 840). The LTE terminal 800 may monitor the
signal of the IoT device wirelessly (step 845). The LTE terminal
800 determines whether interference practically occurs between
itself and the peripheral IoT devices (step 850), and when it is
determined that there is no interference (step 855), the LTE
terminal 800 does not perform a specific operation. Meanwhile, when
the IoT device 2 810 starts data communication (step 860), the IoT
device 2 810 also reports the transmission signal information to
the LTE terminal 800 (step 865). The LTE terminal 800 may monitor
the signal of the IoT device wirelessly (step 870). The LTE
terminal 800 determines whether or not interference practically
occurs between itself and the peripheral IoT devices (step 875).
When it is determined that interference occurs with the IoT device
1 805 which has been already performing data communication, the LTE
terminal 800 determines a method for avoiding the interference
(step 880). First, it should be determined which one of the two
devices will perform the avoidance operation. Occasionally, both
devices may perform the avoidance operation. In order to select the
device to perform the avoidance operation, various items may be
taken into consideration.
[0074] First is a kind of traffic of each device. As described
above, a device to perform the avoidance operation may be selected
depending on how, a service which is on the way of
transmission/reception, is significant. In general, when the
avoidance operation is performed, it is difficult to normally
transmit/receive data communication during that time. Accordingly,
when emergent data (e.g., body health information) or data
sensitive to time delay is transmitted/received, the avoidance
operation may be avoided. When the services of two devices are the
same in terms of significance, effects obtained by performing the
avoidance operation may be taken into consideration. When the
transmission/reception capability of the device that has performed
the avoidance operation is very poor, the device which is less
expected to deteriorate in performance may perform the avoidance
operation. The interference control between short-range
communication devices may be performed through various methods.
[0075] First method: To change a short-range communication
technique in use (e.g., Bluetooth.fwdarw.wireless LAN, zigbee)
[0076] Second method: To adjust a short-range communication
scheduling in use (e.g., adjustment of a cycle pattern of Bluetooth
signal cycle)
[0077] LTE terminal 800 selects a device which will perform the
avoidance operation, determines an avoidance operation method, and
instructs the related IoT device to execute the same (steps 885 and
890).
[0078] FIG. 9 is a view for conceptually describing a procedure in
which an authority of controlling interference is transferred to
another IoT device.
[0079] One user 910 has three kinds of IoT devices in total, for
example, an LTE terminal 915, a wireless headset 925, and a smart
watch 930. At this time, it is assumed that the LTE terminal 915 is
authorized to control interference. The user 910 may possess and
use a new IoT device. For example, the user 910 is riding in a
wirelessly connectable car. The car includes various communication
modules to be capable of wirelessly connecting with various
peripheral IoT devices and providing services that can enhance the
user's convenience. In addition, the car is directly connected with
an LTE base station (step 905) to be capable of providing data
communication to the user. In general, the car may be supplied with
abundant power compared to the LTE terminal 915. Accordingly, when
the authority to control the interference is transferred to the
car, the power consumption of the LTE terminal 915 may be reduced.
The car, having the interference control function, is invested with
the authority from the LTE terminal 915 (step 920) and controls not
only the LTE terminal 915 but also the peripheral IoT devices (step
920). The final decision for transferring the authority may be made
by the user or according to a role designated in advance by the
user. For example, the user may register in advance the IoT devices
capable of executing the authority together with priorities
thereof. When a device which currently has the authority comes
within a sensing distance of another device having the authority,
it is confirmed that both the devices have the authority through
the initial setting process and the authority is transferred
depending on the priorities thereof. Or, setting may be made such
that the fact that there is another device having the authority
around is indicated to the user so that the user can render the
final decision.
[0080] At the initial state of use, when an IoT device, for which
the LTE terminal 915 is set as the device having the control
authority, is powered ON, the IoT device informs the LTE terminal
915 of the power-ON first, and executes the initial setting
process. However, the device currently having the authority is the
car. Accordingly, the LTE terminal 915 needs to transfer the
control authority and instruct the device, which is powered ON, to
be controlled by the car. In addition, in a case of a certain IoT
device, when the IoT device is powered ON, a plurality of devices,
which had the authority in the past, may be found. In this case,
the initial setting process is performed on a specific device
according to a prescribed rule. For example, the initial setting
process may be performed on any of a device which had the authority
last, a device which had the authority earliest, and a device which
had the authority in the past. Even if the IoT device performs the
initial setting process on a device which does not currently have
the authority, the device will render an instruction to the IoT
device as the device currently having the authority.
[0081] FIG. 10 is a flowchart for describing a procedure in which
an authority of controlling interference is transferred to another
IoT device.
[0082] An LTE terminal 1000, which currently has the authority to
control interference, controls the interference of the IoT device 2
1010. At this time, the IoT device 1 1005 comes within a sensing
distance to execute the initial setting process (step 1015). The
LTE terminal decides to transfer the authority to the IoT device 1
1005 (step 1020). At this time, the LTE terminal indicates the
authority transfer to the IoT device 1 1005 and the IoT device 2
1010 (step 1025 and step 1030). From this time, the LTE terminal
and the IoT device 2 1010 reports the information related to data
transmission/reception (step 1035) to the IoT device 1 1005 (step
1040). The IoT device 1 1005 which is invested with the authority
monitors signals of the peripheral IoT devices (step 1045), and
determines whether or not interference occurs between itself and
the peripheral IoT devices (step 1050). When it is determined that
interference occurs (step 1055), the IoT device 1 1005 may instruct
the IoT device to adjust the interference (step 1065). The IoT
device 2 1010 may transfer the authority again (step 1070), and may
indicate this to the device, to which the authority will be
transferred (step 1075). Or, when an IoT device having the
authority is not sensed within the sensing distance any more, a
device, which had the authority in the past, or a device, which has
the interference control function, may trigger the initial setting
process to the peripheral IoT devices (step 1080). The peripheral
IoT devices execute the initial setting process depending on the
non-existence of the device which had the authority (step 1085),
and through the process, a new device having the authority is
decided and will follow the instruction of the device.
[0083] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an internal
configuration of a terminal according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0084] A terminal transmits/receives, for example, data to/from an
upper layer 1110, and transmits/receives control messages via a
control message processing unit 1115. In addition, when
transmitting a control signal or data to a base station, the
terminal multiplexes the data through a multiplexing device 1105
according to a control of a controller 1120 and then transmits the
data through a transmitter 1100. On the contrary, when receiving a
signal, the terminal receives a physical signal through a receiver
1100 according to a control of the controller 1120, then,
demultiplexes the received signal through a demultiplexing device
1105, and transmits the signal to the upper layer 1110 or the
control message processing unit 1115 according to the message
information.
[0085] Meanwhile, in the foregoing, it has been described that the
terminal is constituted with a plurality of blocks which execute
different functions, respectively. However, this is merely an
embodiment, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For
example, the function executed by the demultiplexing device 1105
may be executed by the controller 1120 itself.
[0086] Meanwhile, it may be appreciated that a method and apparatus
for controlling inter-IoT device interference according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure may be implemented in the form
of hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.
Any such software may be stored, for example, in a volatile or
non-volatile storage device such as a ROM, a memory such as a RAM,
a memory chip, a memory device, or a memory IC, or a recordable
optical or magnetic medium such as a CD, a DVD, a magnetic disk, or
a magnetic tape, regardless of its ability to be erased or its
ability to be re-recorded. It will be appreciated that the method
for controlling interference between Internet of things devices may
be implemented by a computer or a portable terminal including a
controller and a memory, and the memory is one example of
machine-readable devices suitable for storing a program or programs
including instructions that implement embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0087] Accordingly, the present disclosure includes a program for a
code implementing the apparatus and method described in the
appended claims of the specification and a machine (a computer or
the like)-readable storage medium for storing the program. Further,
the program may be electronically transferred by a predetermined
medium such as a communication signal transferred through a wired
or wireless connection, and the present disclosure appropriately
includes equivalents of the program.
[0088] In addition, the apparatus of controlling inter-IoT device
interference according to the present disclosure may receive and
store a program from a program providing device connected thereto
in a wired or wireless manner. The program providing device may
include: a program including pre-set instructions that cause the
program processing device to execute a method of controlling
inter-IoT device interference; a memory that stores, for example,
information required for the method of controlling inter-IoT device
interference; a communication unit that performs wired or wireless
communication with the program processing device; and a controller
that transmits the program according to a request of the program
processing device or automatically.
[0089] While the present disclosure has been shown and described
with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of
the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present
disclosure should not be defined as being limited to the
embodiments, but should be defined by the appended claims and
equivalents thereof.
* * * * *